Afghanistan

Afghanistan Desertification and Soil Erosion

Afghanistan's problem is poor management of the environment, over the years the government's main focuses has been on winning wars but because of these constant and continues wars the Afghan government has completely ignored the environment.

One of the main problems occurring in Afghanistan is de-vegetation, over 70% of Afghanistan's forests have been cut down a long with most of the small shrubs scattered all over the country side for fuel, because of this drastic de-vegetation, desertification has been rapidly accruing, without the trees and shrubs Afghanistan's natural deserts are allowed to move freely across the country slowly turning all it touches in to desert

The other main problem in Afghanistan is soil erosion, around 80% of the country is effected by soil erosion which is mostly cased by the geography and the weather of Afghanistan. steep slopes and deep valleys along with unpredictable rain patterns year to year on top of high wind speeds all over the country is what is causing the most soil erosion but the lack proper

farming and miss use of land has also taking into effect and more and more land that was once able to be farmed on is slowly turning into dust.

Another problem Afghanistan is facing is directly connected to war which is that Afghanistan is covered in land mines, according postconflict.unep "Landmines kill or maim an estimated 10 to 12 people every day in Afghanistan. At one point the area contaminated by landmines in Afghanistan covered almost 780 square kilometers" this is a deadly problem that needs to be fixed if all of Afghanistan's lands are to recover.

What is clear is that Afghanistan is in a lot of trouble when it comes to their environment but the government has only now just started to take action, land management will be highly important in the upcoming years for Afghanistan, re-foresting and the overall re planting off all vegetation is key to slow down and hopefully stop the effects of desertification, the protection of the grasslands and low to the ground plant life that stops the process of desertification and flooding need to be protected from the high wind speeds of the flat lands of Afghanistan. But what really needs to take place is the that the Afghanistan government needs to take action now if they want to save their environment.

Sites used

http://www.mindfully.org/Heritage/Afghanistan-Environmental-Degradation-Saba.htm

http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/afg_soe_E.pdf

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2007/07/mil-070730-irin01.htm

Desertification in Jordan

Desertification in Jordan comes mostly from the mismanagement of land. The main causes are illegal logging, irrational plowing, and the cultivating of land. To a lesser extent some of the causes include high rainfall, forest cutting, inappropriate land use, random urbanization, land fragmentation, and the over-pumping of groundwater. There has also been an increase in population with a similar rise in construction which also impacts the land. All of these causes with the exception of high rainfall are the fault of humans.

Naturally, 92% of the country’s area is desert leaving only 8% suitable for agriculture. It has been said that unless some serious measures are taken 1% of the suitable land is expected to disappear within the next few years.

Some actions have been taken to improve the current situation of desertification in Jordan. The Ministry of Environment developed a strategy in 2006 in which seventeen different projects were to be carried out to help. Unfortunately, the projects to improve the ecological situation is being impeded by a lack of funding.

Works Citied

Namrouqa, Hana. "Kingdom's Green Covers Still Threatened by Desertification." Jordan Times. Gale Group , 18 June 2008. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=8693.

"Causes of Desertification in Jordan ." Arab Enviromental Watch. N.p., 24 July 2006. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

Soil Erosion in India

Alex Hennessy

10/31/10

Soil Erosion in India

1. I am focusing on the soil erosion that is happening in India. Soil erosion in India happens mostly on sloped surfaces. Gravity pulls the soil down continuously and creates cracks in the surface. In dry climates, the soil is eroded by wind damage. The rain also damages the soil by changing the dimensions of it when it is wet. This can either be a direct effect of the raindrop, or the “rill and gully” erosion. Rill and Gully erosion is when there is a rainfall and the soil is run off (soilerosion.net). This is becoming a definite problem for India. Almost 130 million hectare of land (45% of total surface area) is affected by serious soil erosion.

2. Erosion in India (and other parts of the world) occurs because of the rapid industrial development and in turn; the steady growth of human life. Human life puts pressure on limited land resources of the country for agricultural, industrial and housing needs of the expanding population (indiahousing.com).

3. The government is trying out different strategies to put an end to soil erosion. The natural modifiers of the soil cannot be stopped very easily (rain, wind, etc.), but the man-made factors (mining, deforestation, construction, etc.) can be regulated and held to a minimum.

Works Cited

http://soilerosion.net/doc/water_erosion.html

http://www.indianetzone.com/41/soil_erosion_india.htm

http://www.indiahousing.com/land-terminology/land-degradation.html

Philippines Soil Erosion

On the Philippine islands, soil erosion is a frightening concept. Frequent typhoons and flooding serves for rapidly ascending sea levels. Despite this, it is not rainfall so much as runoff causing rills that contributes the most to soil erosion, and low water flow over these steep slopes is difficult to stop with the amount of surface coverage. Over half of the country’s area has inclines steeper than 18º, which accelerates the pace. Farmers scrambling to support their families feel forced to chop trees for land, but this deforestation only leads to more pollution and poorer quality soil. Not only does the geography of the Philippines invite soil erosion, but the people accidentally clear the way for it in order to survive.

Social and economic structures are weak, and unsupportive of small farmers. To keep up with their livelihood, farmers use the slash-and-burn technique for wiping out clumps of trees, but in the end, all they have accomplished is a massive loss of nutrients and physical structure of the land that keeps their products prosperous. In the end, the farmers are only condemning the land with themselves. Landslides and mudslides collapse from crazy storms, but runoff is an even greater problem: as water coasts downhill, forming rills on the way that leads to more erosion, it collects more soil particles, leading to greater erosion.

Fortunately, the people of these islands are not completely oblivious. Proper techniques are spread and the knowledge of healthy farming techniques with specific crops that helps both the production and land is growing. Coconets, made from coconuts, supports slopes and protects them from landslides and mudslides, as well as rehabilitating rivers and shorelines. These coconuts not only decrease the velocity of water, they also create jobs and use local products, as the Philippines is the world’s primary coconut producer, with over 67% of farmlands providing them. Hopefully, with enlightened farmers and coconets, the soil erosion dilemma will dwindle.

Desertification in Mongolia

Desertification in Mongolia

Overgrazing of Kashmir goats that produce the hair used in cashmere products is leading to desertification in Mongolia. Mongolia is located in Asia, specifically right above China. It is heavily plagued with poverty and a concerning rise in desertification. If you look at the photo to the left, the upper half of the map is greener. This is Outer Mongolia. However, as you can see, the grasslands are shrinking, and being replaced with desert. Inner Mongolia (the lower half of the map) looks to be almost entirely desert from an aerial photograph ("Mongolia.").

The "reason" for increasing desertification is overpopulation of grazing Kashmir goats. Poverty is common with with nomadic citizens of Mongolia and many of the residents are desperate. So, when the oppertunity to sustain themselves came along, many farmers took advantage. It is greedy, however in the conditions many of these people live in, you can hardly blame them.

Cashmere wool has always been considered a luxury due to its rarity, however in the 1990's it started being marketed as an affordable opulence. Finished Cashmere wool is a tedious process: it takes one goat 4 years to produce enough wool for one sweater. The specific type of hair needed grows underneath the top coat of the goat. Mongolia and particular regions of Asia are the only places in the world successful at "growing" this raw product. This is specifically because the temperatures range from -33°F in the winter to 107° F in the summer; the extreme temperatures crucial for the hair growth ("Mongolia Cashmere").

European countries purchased the finished products from Chinese factories whom were buying wool from farmers in Inner Mongolia. Goat herds increased in staggering numbers and quickly, Inner Mongolia was becoming a desert. That did not stop the process. Farmers spread out to find grasslands for their herds to graze. Kashmir goats are extremely hard on the land because they consume everything, and when they eat they rip the whole plant - normally grass - out of the ground. That left loose sand and quickly, one-third of Inner Mongolia became a wasteland. It is estimated to be uninhabitable by 2020 ("DEFORESTATION AND DESERTIFICATION IN CHINA"). Between 1994 and 1999 the Gobi Desert expanded by an area larger than the Netherlands (Buckley).

Inner Mongolia is controlled by the Chinese government, which was convient because the factories did not have to pay an export or import tax, nor did they have to smuggle it across the boarder. However, when the Gobi Desert began raining on Bejing, officials started cracking down.

Inner Mongolia's production rate of raw and finished cashmere wool dropped significantly, and Chinese factories turn their attention to independent outer Mongolia. As you would expect, Outer Mongolia's Kashmir goat population incresed in staggering numbers. To deter overpopulation and also to profit from, the Outer Mongolian government implimented an export tax on Cashmere wool. This has not discouraged anyone selling to China however, as China is the worlds largest Cashmere consumer, purchasing an estimated 2/3 of the overall yeild; 1/3 legally, 1/3 illegially. ("Mongolia Cashmere").

Sadly, very little is being done to solve this issue. When Chinese officials realized the problems in Inner Mongolia, they stepped in to stop them. It was far too late at that point, as the land has been almost entirely destroyed. Outer Mongolia took advantage if the oppertunity to flourish and began supplying Chinese factories with the Cashmere wool.

Outer Mongolia is extremely corrupt and poverty ridden, and many of its inhabitants realized the chance to be successful. Another hugely important matter to consider is that no one owns the land. It is a common area and people (nomads) live where they please and raise animals for their own benefits. That makes many famers feel that they are not responsible for the area and can enrich their own lives at the sake of the environment, leading to a lot more animals than the land can support ("Mongolia Cashmere").

Works Cited

Buckley, Michael. turning mongolia's grassland into desert. Meltdown in Tibet/Michael Buckley, n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. ">.

"TED Case Studies." Mongolia Cashmere. TED, n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. .">.

"DEFORESTATION AND DESERTIFICATION IN CHINA." DEFORESTATION AND DESERTIFICATION IN CHINA. Facts and Details, 04/2010. Web. 31 Oct 2010. ">.

"Mongolia." Google Earth. Web. 31 Oct 2010.